After more than tripling its Texas headcount to close to 90 lawyers over the last year, Paul Hastings announced Tuesday it has inked new office deals in Dallas and Houston.
The firm emerged out of a competitive bid to be the final major tenant at the nine-story office tower in The Knox Street Development in Dallas, and in Houston the firm will relocate from 600 Travis Street to space twice as large at the 48-story 609 Main.
Paul Genender, Joy Dowdle, and Cris Dewar are overseeing the build out of the new offices for Paul Hastings. The new leases are for approximately 40,000 square feet in Dallas and around 45,000 square feet in Houston, both of which account for roughly two full floors and room for 100-plus lawyers.
“These moves underscore our commitment in Texas and the growth we are experiencing, driven by client demand and our ability to attract premier talent in Houston and Dallas and across our entire platform,” Genender told The Lawbook.
The Knox Street Development is a joint venture partnership of BDT & MSD Partners, Trammell Crow Company, The Retail Connection, and Highland Park Village Associates. The development spans four acres and includes retail, office, hospitality, residential, and recreational programming, including a new central plaza and market square. Within the office building, seven workplace floors are situated above two floors of retail and restaurant spaces. The point person for Trammell Crow on the project is Cynthia Langhorst.
In the Knox lease agreement, the ownership group was represented by CBRE’s Trey Smith, Alexandra Cullins and Ben Davis, while Paul Hastings was represented by Clay Hammerstein, Harlan Davis, Ken Rapp, Morgan Griffith, and Phil Puckett, also of CBRE. Paul Hastings joins BDT & MSD Partners and anchor tenant ISN Software Corporation as the office tower’s occupants.
“It is a fantastic and vibrant location on the Katy Trail, and it will be a unique multi-use development. It will be convenient for our attorneys and staff,” Genender said.
CBRE’s Hammerstein, Davis, Rapp, Griffith, and Puckett also represented Paul Hastings on the 609 Main lease. Other major tenants at 609 Main include Kirkland & Ellis, Orrick, Hogan Lovells, and United Airlines.
Paul Hastings has hired premier design firm Gensler and principal Kenneth Wiesehuegel to lead both office projects. The firm plans for the Houston office to be ready next spring and for the Dallas office to be completed in 2027.